Imran Khan to expel 20 lawmakers from PTI

Unlike the empty claims of other parties Pakistan Tehreek- i-Insaf Chairman, Imran Khan, has fulfilled his word and taken a bold step by intending to expel 20 PTI lawmakers from his party who were allegedly involved in horse trading, reportedly selling themselves for 40 million each. PTI may lose up to 30% of its party leadership.

Imran Khan, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), said on Wednesday that his party has decided to take action against 20 lawmakers for “participating in horse trading” during the recent Senate Elections.

PTI chief has, however, mentioned that the accused have a chance to explain their position before their names are forwarded to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). He also said that expelling those who do not care about the sanctity of the vote is a way to establish genuine democracy in Pakistan. He also wondered that if other political parties will follow the step.

The names of the PTI lawmakers who are suspected by the party leadership of “selling their votes” include:

PTI

Deena Naaz

Nargis Ali

Nagina Khan

Sardar Idrees

Obaid Mayar

Zahid Durrani

FouziaBibi

Naseem Hayat

Qurban Khan

Arif Yousaf

Amjid Afridi

Abdul Haq

Javed Naseem

Yasin Khalil

Faisal Zaman

Sami Alizayi

Joining from QWP

MerajHamayun

Awami Jamhoori Ittehad

Khatoon Bibi

Babar Saleem

Joining from PML-N

Wajihuz Zaman

He also said that horse-trading is not new to Pakistan. It has been an integral part of Pakistan politics, alleged PTI chief.”This is not the first time lawmakers have taken part in horse trading,” Khan said. “This has been happening for the past 30 or 40 years.”

Imran Khan further informed the nation that the accused lawmakers had received as much as Rs40 million each. He praised other members of his party who “resisted the temptation” to take large sums of money offered to them by other parties.

At least 17 PTI lawmakers allegedly took money and voted for the PPP candidates in senate election. Two PPP candidates managed to get seats in senate despite having only seven Members of the Provincial Assembly.

An initial investigation into the matter of alleged horse-trading ordered by the KPK Chief Minister Pervez Khattak revealed that at least there were 17 members who sold out their votes. Later on PTI chief took the matter seriously ordered a detailed probe into the alleged horse-trading to bring out the involved lawmakers and ‘throw them out of PTI’.

Imran Khan’s decision to expel lawmakers allegedly involved in horse-trading has been admired and appreciated by political analysts in Pakistan. This move has become more significant due to two obvious reasons. One, general elections are not away and PTI has made such a big move. Two, Nawaz Sharif is rallying to ‘grace the vote’ and PTI chief has done it without any fear.

Senior analyst Dr. MoeedPirzada has tweeted that:

Naming, Shaming & Firing PTI MPAs for Senate Horse Trading by Imran Khan is an act of supreme confidence. PTI has also demonstrated its ability to counter PTM propaganda on a political level; New Dynamics are emerging that will decide Election 2018 & beyond

Naming, Shaming & Firing PTI MPAs for Senate Horse Trading by Imran Khan is an act of supreme confidence. PTI has also demonstrated its ability to counter PTM propaganda on a political level; New Dynamics are emerging that will decide Election 2018 & beyond

Columnist MehrTarar has also admired the decision of PTI’s chief. She tweeted;

Expelling 20 MPAs on the allegation of vote-selling in the Senate right before the elections is a very courageous move, and is an act that looks beyond short-term benefit. Thank you, PTI for doing the right thing (provided you go beyond the show-cause notices).

Expelling 20 MPAs on the allegation of vote-selling in the Senate right before the elections is a very courageous move, and is an act that looks beyond short-term benefit.

Thank you, PTI for doing the right thing (provided you go beyond the show-cause notices)…

“I have no doubt that the PTI will have to face consequences. But, we are ready to pay any price to purge our party of corrupt elements,” Khan said, adding these MPAs deceived party activists who had voted them to power.

Imran Khan actually made a history by issuing show cause notices to the lawmakers of his own party. But the real question is whether he will eventually expel those found involved in horse trading or not? If Imran Khan moves in the direction he is currently head towards, he is going to make the PTI an institution based upon the ideals of genuine democracy. In Pakistan, elections and particularly Senate elections are not genuinely contested rather they are politically managed through horse-trading.

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